Formula One: Bernie Ecclestone to face trial in Germany

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F1's Ecclestone to stand trial for bribery

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Bernie Ecclestone will stand trial on bribery charges, a German court announced

The 83-year-old is accused of making corrupt payments during the sale of Formula One

He will step down as a director of the company that owns the rights to the motorsport

However, Ecclestone will continue to be involved in the running of F1

How do you run a business effectively when your supremo is facing bribery charges over a multibillion-dollar deal?

In the case of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone you step down as director of the sport's holding company -- Delta Topco -- but continue to run one of the world's most lucrative sport franchises on a day-to-day basis.

The 83-year-old Ecclestone is accused of making a corrupt payment during his sale of the sport in 2006 and was indicted on bribery charges in German. He is set to go on trial in April.

He denies the charges and he was not immediately available for comment when his office was contacted by CNN.

Following the court's decision, Delta Topco Limited held a board meeting to plan how best to run the F1 business.

Vettel and Schumacher's route to success 7 photos

Vettel and Schumacher's route to success7 photos

German greats – Sebastian Vettel is proving to be a worthy successor to fellow German driver Michael Schumacher (right) as the biggest star in Formula One.

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Vettel and Schumacher's route to success7 photos

Kings of Kerpen – Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher made his Formula One debut in 1991. Shortly after making his bow, the German posed for this photograph at the go-kart circuit in his hometown of Kerpen where he began his racing career.

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Vettel and Schumacher's route to success7 photos

Motoring mentor – German karting coach Gerhard Noack helped shape the careers of Schumacher and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel at the Kerpen track. CNN presenter Amanda Davies went to meet Noack for a rare television interview.

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Vettel and Schumacher's route to success7 photos

The Vettel era begins – When Noack spotted Vettel's talents, he hoped to make him the next German prodigy. Here Vettel is an 18-year-old about to drive an F1 car for the first time in a 2005 private test for BMW Sauber.

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Vettel and Schumacher's route to success7 photos

Zero to hero – A young Vettel (shown here in 2008) says he looked up to Schumacher in his early F1 career -- but soon he would edge closer to his hero's achievements.

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Vettel and Schumacher's route to success7 photos

The red menace – Schumacher won five of his seven world titles in the scarlet colors of the Ferrari team. Noack expects Vettel to one day leave Red Bull as he seeks to add to his titles -- will he join Ferrari?

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Vettel and Schumacher's route to success7 photos

Fab four – There were solo celebrations for Vettel at the 2013 Indian Grand Prix as another victory clinched his fourth straight world title with the supreme Red Bull team. The 26-year-old is tipped to one day surpass Schumacher as the sport's most decorated driver.

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EXPAND GALLERY

Sebastian Vettel: The loneliness of the F1 champion 6 photos

Sebastian Vettel: The loneliness of the F1 champion6 photos

Open road racer – Sebastian Vettel has got used to having the open road between his Red Bull and his rivals in the 2013 season. He has won 13 of the 19 races up for grabs.

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Sebastian Vettel: The loneliness of the F1 champion6 photos

Out in front – Vettel has spent the second half of the 2013 Formula One season as a lone racer, winning all the races from Belgium to Brazil. He has set a new record for consecutive wins in a single season and equaled the record for nine straight wins over two seasons.

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Sebastian Vettel: The loneliness of the F1 champion6 photos

Dashing Vettel – Vettel's speed in 2013 saw him pick up the DHL Fastest Lap Award. The Red Bull racer set the fastest lap during the races seven times during the season -- and for the German every record counts.

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Sebastian Vettel: The loneliness of the F1 champion6 photos

Sun downer – The four time world champion literally sailed off into the sunset at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, winning the twilight race by a huge 30.8 seconds.

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Sebastian Vettel: The loneliness of the F1 champion6 photos

Crowd trouble – Not everyone has been so happy about Vettel's dominace. The German was booed on the podium after another dominant victory at the Singapore Grand Prix.

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Sebastian Vettel: The loneliness of the F1 champion6 photos

Cruise control – Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (left) says Vettel has been able to cruise to wins this season but he is one of several top drivers aiming to stop the German's era of dominance when new rules changes shake up the sport in 2014.

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EXPAND GALLERY

"Mr. Ecclestone has reassured the board that he is innocent of the charges and intends to vigorously defend the case which will commence in late April 2014," said a Delta Topco statement.

"After discussion with the board, Mr. Ecclestone has proposed and the board has agreed that until the case has been concluded, he will step down as a director with immediate effect, thereby relinquishing his board duties and responsibilities until the case has been resolved.

"The board believes that it is in the best interests of both the F1 business and the sport that Mr. Ecclestone should continue to run the business on a day-to-day basis, but subject to increased monitoring and control by the board.

"Mr. Ecclestone has agreed to these arrangements. The approval and signing of significant contracts and other material business arrangements shall now be the responsibility of the chairman, Mr. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, and deputy chairman, Mr. Donald Mackenzie."

Ecclestone is accused of making a corrupt payment to Gerhard Gribkowsky, a banker who worked on the sale of F1 to private equity firm CVC in 2006.

Gribkowsky was jailed for eight and a half years in 2012 after he admitted to taking bribes, an accusation which Ecclestone denies.